Chargers, Steelers Just Playing Out String : Malone's Current and Former Teams Both Stumbling Along at 4-10

SAN DIEGO — A '60s counterculture hero named Abbie Hoffman once wrote an anti-capitalist treatise called "Steal This Book."

If Hoffman were as tuned in to the NFL as he once was to the SDS, his advice to people thinking about attending today's Chargers-Steelers contest might be: "Don't Go To This Game." Or, perhaps, "Steal A Nap."

This is, after all, a neo-classic matchup pitting the resistible force against the movable object. The Chargers (4-10) have scored fewer points (187) than any other team in the league. The Steelers (4-10) have allowed more points (377) than any other team in the league.

The Chargers' starting quarterback is Mark Malone, who has the worst listed quarterback rating (53.2) in the AFC. The Steelers start Bubby Brister, who has the second-worst listed quarterback rating (65.2) in the AFC.

Last year, Malone played for Pittsburgh, where he finished with the worst quarterback rating (46.7) in the NFL. This year, he is 0-6 as a starter. Brister, his Steeler replacement, has completed only 46.5% of his passes.

Much of the focus of this game has centered on the heat Malone took from the Pittsburgh fans last year before the Chargers got him in a trade. One irate fan drove a van into a vat of nacho cheese at Three Rivers Stadium because, he said, he was upset with Malone's play.

Charger fans largely have left Malone alone. Does that mean the Steelers have worse fans? Does that mean Charger fans care less? The Chargers have averaged 7.933333333333333zzzzzzzz points per game in their 6 home games. They have won only 1 of those games. Their offense has produced only three touchdowns at home.

In last week's 27-10 loss to the Bengals, the Chargers lost H-back Rod Bernstine for the year with a knee injury. Recent injuries also have ended the seasons of starting defensive end Tyrone Keys, linebacker Billy Ray Smith (their best defensive player) and quarterback Mark Vlasic, who had won both his starts.

Said Jerry Rhome, the offensive coordinator: "It's almost like somebody said, 'OK, you're down. So now we're going to stomp on you.' "

Brister watched wide-eyed last year as Steeler fans stomped on Malone's psyche. "It was pretty bad," he said. "People were pretty hard on him. I'd hate to go through something like that. I think he handled it as well as anybody possibly could. I learned so much from him during that time. He's probably the only person who could have handled it the way he did."

When a Pittsburgh writer stopped to visit Malone in the locker room after the Bengals' game, Malone was cordial, even friendly. The writer asked if Malone had any message for the people back in Pittsburgh.

"Just tell everybody hello," Malone said.

Anything else, the writer persisted.

"Hello ought to do it," Malone said calmly.

"Mark has always spoken well of the people back in Pittsburgh," Charger Coach Al Saunders said. "He treats other people with a great deal of respect."

Even if he does not receive the same in return.

Oddly enough, Malone was the quarterback most responsible for dashing the Chargers' playoff hopes late last season. He completed 13 of 26 passes and rushed for 34 yards in a 20-16 Pittsburgh victory at San Diego in the 13th game.

It was the Chargers' fourth consecutive loss. And in it, they lost 4 fumbles. They proceeded to lose their next two and finish 8-7 after having been 8-1. It was a rare bright spot for Malone, who still insists the harassment in Pittsburgh didn't affect his play last year.

"I'm sure it did," Brister said. "You try not to say it does. But deep down inside it has to. Mark started having a little confidence problem because people were down on him."

Brister's Steelers have won 2 in a row, including a 37-34 upset victory in the Astrodome, Houston's so-called "House of Pain," last Sunday night. "Ain't no house of pain to me right now," Brister said moments after the game ended.

It was the Steelers' first road victory and momentarily took the pressure off the coach, one-time Charger assistant Chuck Noll. Noll has won more Super Bowls (four) than any other coach, but he has been criticized for staying too long with favored veterans. Despite the modest winning streak, this is the Steelers' worst season since finishing 1-13 in 1969, Noll's first year.

Noll says he doesn't pay attention to rumors. "I operate in a little shell," he says. "I'm kind of oblivious to what's going on, and that helps."

But like Brister, Noll was unable to ignore the abuse heaped on Malone in Pittsburgh last year. "I can't explain it," Noll said. "But for some reason there was a small group that made it very difficult for Mark."

The leading theory in Pittsburgh was the fans there had been spoiled by Malone's predecessor at quarterback, Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw won four Super Bowls in four tries. "I'm sure that was part of it," Noll said. "And I'm sure it's not any easier out in San Diego trying to fill a legend's shoes there."